Portable game apparatus



PORTABLE GAME APPARATUS Filed March 20, 1968 I Him! I g Frank Lfiii /6 Fig. 2 BY "M z. z lmt/ ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,477,718 PORTABLE GAME APPARATUS Frank Loncar, 629 N. Marsalis, Dallas, Tex. 75203 Filed Mar. 20, 1968, Ser. No. 714,552 Int. Cl. A63d 7/00 US. Cl. 273-40 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A simulatd bowling game comprising a set of nine pins, one of which advantageously may be relatively larger than the others, a substantially planar platform providing a support for the pins, a weighted ball having one end of an elongated flexible link connected thereto, and a stand, freely movable relative to the platform, providing an elevated support having the end of the flexible link opposite the ball connected thereto, whereby the ball is suspended from the link for free swinging movement therewith relative to the pins.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a portable game apparatus, and it has particular reference to a simulated bowling game as hereinafter described.

A prime object of the invention resides in the provision of a simulated bowling game which comprises a plurality of nine pins, one of which advantageously may be relatively larger than the others, and which further includes a substantially planar platform providing a support for the pins, a weighted ball having one end of an elongated, flexible link connected thereto, and a stand providing an elevated support having the end of the flexible link opposite the ball connected thereto, whereby the ball is suspended from the link for free swinging movement therewith relative to the pins.

An object of the invention is mat of providing a game apparatus as described which is not necessarily limited in size, and is not a fixed apparatus which is necessarily confined to a supporting table or pedestal, but which advantageously may be of comparatively large dimensions and in which the platform on which the pins are arranged thereon in predetermined spaced apart relation to each other, is adapted to be supported on the floor or other supporting surface, and the stand which extends upwardly and laterally outwardly over the platform is adapted to be supported independently thereof and is freely movable relative thereto.

Another object of the invention is that of providing a game apparatus as described in which the platform is of novel light weight design and consists in its entirety of an open frame which has as its principal function to position the several pins in relation to each other, preparatory to acting on them with the swinging ball, and because of its open structure, tends to prevent the pins from rolling after being sticken down.

Broadly, the invention contemplates the provision of a game apparatus as described in which the platform and the stand, which with the pins and the ball comprise the apparatus, are separate pieces, and the stand itself is formed in sections, all characterized by their simplicity and their light weight, and which may be conveniently packaged, transported, and stored when not in use.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS While the foregoing objects are paramount, other and lesser objects will become apparent as the description "ice proceeds when considered in connection with the appended drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of complete apparatus embodying the invention, showing the platform supporting the pins and the stand supporting the ball in their operative positions relative to each other, and showing the pins in place on the platform and. illustrating the swinging movement of the ball, and

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view on an enlarged scale showing the stand in a retracted position relative to the platform, with the ball depending therefrom, and indicating by broken lines the positions of the several pins relative to the platform.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring to the drawing, the apparatus: of the invention includes a set of nine pins, each designated by the numeral 10, one of which is larger than the others.

A substantially planar platform, indicated generally by the numeral 11, is adapted to be supported on the floor or other supporting surface and provides a support for the pins 10 which are arranged thereon in predetermined spaced apart relation to each other, as will be more fully explained.

The invention further includes a weighted ball 12, which is connected by a swivel 13 to one end of an e1ongated flexible link 14, and a stand 15, as hereinafter described, which is adapted to be supported independently of the platform 11 and is freely movable relative thereto.

The stand 15 extends upwardly and laterally outwardly over the platform 11, providing an elevated support having the end of the flexible link 14 opposite the ball 12 connected thereto, whereby the ball 12 is suspended from the link 14 for free swinging movement therewith relative to the pins 10.

The platform 11 is rectangular and consists in its entirety of an open frame having two pairs of elongated planar elements 16, each forming one side thereof, and having two other elongated planar elements 17 each arranged parallel to and between the first mentioned elements 16 of one pair, equidistantly space-d therefrom, the elements 17 being crossed intermediate their ends and each intersecting two other of the elements 16 intermediate their ends.

The stand 15 has a weighted base 18 a tubular post 19 extending upwardly from the base 18, and an elongated boom-like member 20, bent right angularly intermediate its ends, having one of its ends received telescopically in the upper end of the post 19, and adjustable axially and rotatively thereto, and extending upwardly and laterally outwardly therefrom.

The platform provides convenient means for positioning the pins 10, and in use the pins 10 are arranged on the platform 11 in three rows of three pins 10 each. As shown, four of the pins 10 are positioned at the respective corners of the frame comprising the platform 11. Four other pins 10 are positioned along the sides 16 of the frame 11, at the intersection of the sides 16 with the elements 17. The larger of the pins 10 is positioned at the center of the frame 11, at the intersection of the elements 17 with each other.

The spacing of the several elements 16 and 17. which comprise the frame 11, relative to the diameter of the several pins 10, and the diameter of the ball 12, is such that the spacing between the pins 10, in any horizontal direction, is substantially greater than the diameter of the ball 12, so that the ball 12 may pass freely between any two of the pins 10, upon swinging movement relative thereto, without necessarily striking them, and the frame members 16 and 17, due to their arrangement, will tend to prevent the pins 10 from rolling when upset.

3 OPERATION The game can be played by two or more persons in competition, each player in turn manipulating the ball 12 by bringing it back to the approximate position illustrated in FIGURE 1 and then swinging it about the assembled pins 10 in a path as indicated in broken lines and arrows in FIGURE 1, the ball 12, in one position during its course, being shown in dotted lines.

The pins 10 are arranged on the platform 11 in the numbered positions shown in FIGURE 2, and in counter-clockwise manner, the center pin being the larger and located in the position bearing the numeral 9. It will be noted, by reference to FIGURE 1, that the course of the ball 12 is generally circular and in a counter-clockwise direction so that when contact is made with the pins 10 it would be possible to upset all of the pins in their numbered sequence, as indicated in FIGURE 2, and in scoring the player would gain one point for each pin knocked down, or two points if the center pin is upset.

It would be conceivable that by striking the center pin, in the number nine position, and which is the taller, the entire group of pins could be upset making a score of eleven points.

Other methods of scoring may be adopted, as desired, as well as the manner of coursing the ball 12.

It is not intended that the invention be limited to the specific structure and arrangement of parts herein shown and described since certain changes in design may obviously be resorted to by persons skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and intent of the invention or from the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A simulated bowling game comprising a plurality of pins, a substantially planar platform providing a support for the pins thereon in predetermined spaced apart relation to each other, said platform being substantially square and consisting in its entirety of an open frame having two pairs of elongated planar elements, each forming one side thereof, and having two other elongated planar elements each arranged parallel to and between the first mentioned elements of one pair and spaced equidistantly therefrom, the last mentioned elements being crossed intermediate their ends and each intersecting two other of the first mentioned elements intermediate their ends, a weighted ball having one end of an elongated flexible link connected thereto, and a stand supported relative to said platform, and freely movable relative thereto and extending upwardly and laterally outwardly over said platform, having the end of the flexible link opposite the ball connected thereto, whereby the ball is suspended from the link for free swinging movement therewith relative to the pins.

2. The structure of claim 1, said stand having a weighted base, a tubular post extending upwardly from the base, and an elongated boom-like member, bent right angularly intermediate its ends, and having one of its ends received telescopically in the upper end of the post and adjustable axially and rotatively relative thereto, and extending upwardly and laterally outwardly therefrom.

3. The structure of claim 1, said platform providing convenient means for positioning the pins on said platform in three rows of three pins each, four of said pins being positioned at the respective corners of the frame, four other pins being positioned along the sides of the frame, at the intersection of the sides with said last mentioned elements, and another pin being positioned at the center of the frame, at the intersection of said last mentioned elements with each other.

4. The structure of claim 3, one of said pins being relatively larger than the others and positioned at the center of the frame, at the intersection of said last mentioned elements with each other.

5. The structure of claim 3, the spacing of the several elements which comprise the frame, relative to the diameter of the several pins, and the diameter of the ball, being such that in use the spacing between the pins, in any horizontal direction, is substantially greater than the diameter of the ball, so that the ball may pass freely between any two of the pins upon swinging movement relative thereto without striking the same.

'6. The structure of claim 3, the spacing of the several elements which comprise the frame relative to the diameter of the several pins, and the height and configuration thereof being such that the pins are effectively prevented from rolling upon being knocked down.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 979,598 12/1910 Thimm 273-40 1,319,355 10/1919 Nixon et a1. 273-40 1,371,831 3/1921 Workman o 273-40 1,520,608 12/1924 Smith 273-40 2,160,451 5/1939 Athey 273-40 2,670,204 2/ 1954 Powell 273-40 2,819,902 1/1958 Dicker 273-40 X ANTON O. OECHSLE, Primary Examiner 

